I often wondered about the effects of having worked with JP5 in the boiler room while cleaning boiler equipment. I got out of the Navy in 1971 my end of enlistment medical exams showed no heart problems. In 1982 I was diagnosed with a heart murmur that doctors say is hereditary. The type of heart problem I have is hyertrophic cardiomyopathy and doctors say that it runs in some families. I have checked with family members and no one recollects anyone having this same problem within the family. The heart problem did not show up prior to my enlistment and has been of great concern to me and my family

Let me ask if there any others out there if they have heart problems the same as mine who were exposed to JP5 and now have a heart murmur. Thanks.
68mustang

note: I not only was exposed, but was soaked in these chemicals daily.
U.S.A.F.
1 (AFSC) (Fuels Specialist) - Fuels for vehicles and aircraft, storage, transfer, distribution, testing, etc...
2 (AFSC) (Reprographics Specialist) used chemicals to clean printing presses all day every day..

Short write-up on getting sick on active duty:
While working with fuels, I got sick with severe headaches, swollen limbs, gastritis.
The doctors determined it was the chemicals, they removed me from working with chemicals. I spent a few weeks doing anew job in communication, in a weather squadron. After just a few short weeks, I got new orders to work in repro-graphics, and had to work with chemicals all over again. The same symptoms came back and got worse, with my limbs swollen, sometimes so bad while I cried in pain, tremors, shaking, limbs swollen so bad, the skin broke and streams of blood ran down my arms.. I was unable to sleep and would scream in at home.. I go to sick call and lay in the waiting room crying in pain...

i had to leave after the U.S.A.F. 4.5 years, because I had lost 2 jobs, and could not get another job, they just refused to give me a job with no chemicals.
Have been sick with swollen limbs since discharge, EDEMA, Bad Leg and/or knee (chondromalacia), from jumping in and out of fuel trucks. Degenerative disc disease, Intestinal disease, Shaking tremors, distal polyneuropathy, Dystrophy, muscle wasting, no Teeth (intestinal disease destroyed teeth).

Current rating 50% headaches. 6 Issues on appeal. NO decision on 3 issues after DRO hearing 2010.
Currently dying from Necrotizing Pancreatitis (after operation to remove 5 inch pancreas cyst, and 6 months in a hospital bed), no cure, and many complications and more cysts.
Neurological diseases, Eye diseases, more,,, and more, and more..

I have little money, but I did find a specialist, a doctor in Toxicology, whom I had to pay for an IMO on Fuels and chemicals, and add to my appeal.
If i had money I would also get a specialist in neurology to write an IMO also.

I had Kaiser medical insurance for a few years int he l ate 1980's and early 1990's had several operations. All those records are with the VA. The VA has been treating me for 15 years. All my medical records are with the VA.

Attached Files

I was exposed to JP4 and JP7 fuels for 4 years while working on fuel systems on B52/ KC 135 from 1967 to 1971, when I was stationed overseas there were no safety regulations in the USAF, you just did your job as you were told. Even in the states, no one ever gave us safety briefings, protection, except for white cotten coveralls. We used to spend hours inside the B52 fuel cells without any kind of auxilary respiratory equipment and had to come out of the fuel cells to get fresh air or pass out in the tanks. Now I am seeing the after effects hazardous fuels had on my body. I am reaching out to all those veterans who worked on inflight refueling/ fuel cell shops in the Air Force to come forward and gather information that this exposure to harmful fuels that contain Lead, Benzene and other harmful chemicals is just as dangerous as those veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange. The VA continues to refuse to recognize our plea for disabilities.

I was exposed to JP4 and JP7 fuels for 4 years while working on fuel systems on B52/ KC 135 from 1967 to 1971, when I was stationed overseas there were no safety regulations in the USAF, you just did your job as you were told. Even in the states, no one ever gave us safety briefings, protection, except for white cotten coveralls. We used to spend hours inside the B52 fuel cells without any kind of auxilary respiratory equipment and had to come out of the fuel cells to get fresh air or pass out in the tanks. Now I am seeing the after effects hazardous fuels had on my body. I am reaching out to all those veterans who worked on inflight refueling/ fuel cell shops in the Air Force to come forward and gather information that this exposure to harmful fuels that contain Lead, Benzene and other harmful chemicals is just as dangerous as those veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange. The VA continues to refuse to recognize our plea for disabilities.

Actually it's getting much better as far as for VA disability purposes.

These fuel exposure claims can be granted with strong medical
opinion and a full medical rationale of the nexus to a disability and
proof of inservice exposure to Fuels.

The problem I have seen here over the years when these types of
claims crop up is that often the veteran cannot identify the actual
type fuel , nor prove their direct exposure to it, nor obtain a
strong IMO that specifically identifies the fuel type as the etiology
of their claimed disability...with a full medical rationale.

It Can be done however.

“and thus Resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran, he has
an autoimmune disease, identified as CIDP, that is causally related
to his in-service exposure to JP-4 aviation fuel and cleaning
solvents, as an aircraft mechanic and crew chief during the Korean
Conflict.

Service connection related to exposure to various fuels is always going to be a problem. The reason is simple. A very large number of veterans have exposure of one kind or another, and varying amounts of exposure from minimal to "swimming in it". This alone , to the government, is reason enough to seriously fight over claims. Kerosene, and Diesel fuels, as examples, were commonly used to clean just about anything, from machinery to weapons, so many veterans of all the branches have exposure.

More dangerous and volatile chemicals were used in such things as typewriter cleaning spray(of all things), which was used at one time as an electronics equipment cleaner. It contained cancer causing ingredients, and was eventually banned from use. PCB oil was used in transformers and capacitors. The list goes on and on. In order to evade the cost, the government, and in particular, the VA, can be expected to go to greater than normal effort to deny such claims.

Translated

A VA claim, related to fuel exposure, must clearly meet the VA's requirements for nexus, medical history, medical opinion, and so forth. The chances are that the original claim will be denied, forcing an appeal. Since many veterans, for one reason or another don't appeal, or don't appeal in a timely fashion, the government wins by default!